TONIGHT ` PIPPED FOR GOLD LESS THAN A MINUTE TO THE LINE. HAYDEN WILDE TELLS US ABOUT HIS TOUGH FINAL STEPS AND THE ONES QUICKLY BEARING DOWN BEHIND HIM IN A DRAMATIC FINISH TO THE MEN'S TRIATHLON. AND ALEX YEE GOES IN FRONT NOW! NO SELF-PITY, THOUGH ` CHECK THESE IMAGES OUT. THEY'VE GONE VIRAL AROUND THE WORLD, ENCAPSULATING THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT BETWEEN THE GOLD AND SILVER MEDALLISTS. AND WILDE HASN'T GIVEN UP ON HIS DREAM OF GETTING TO THE TOP OF THE PODIUM. PLUS ` BACK HERE, RELEASED A SHORT TIME AGO, A DAMNING REPORT ABOUT AT-RISK CHILDREN WITH AN ALARMING COMPARISON OF THE SITUATION NOW TO WHEN MALACHI SUBECZ WAS MURDERED. CAPTIONS BY OTO SEQUEIRA, KATE MCCULLOUGH AND LENA ERAKOVICH. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2024 KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING AND BONJOUR. HELPED BY ONE MATE, ONLY TO BE RUN DOWN NEAR THE FINISH LINE BY ANOTHER. HAYDEN WILDE SAYS HE DID EVERYTHING HE COULD TO WIN GOLD IN AN ENTHRALLING MEN'S TRIATHLON HERE IN PARIS. BUT, THE SILVER LINING ` ONE OF THE MOST POIGNANT MOMENTS OF THE GAMES SO FAR CAPTURING THE WORLD'S ATTENTION. HERE'S OLYMPICS REPORTER GUY HEVELDT. (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) A WELCOME FIT FOR AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION. (PERFORMS KARANGA) HAYDEN WILDE DIDN'T WIN GOLD, BUT HIS INCREDIBLE EFFORT TO HAVE SILVER AROUND HIS NECK WORTHY OF THE ULTIMATE PRIZE. HOW DOES THAT THING FEEL AROUND YOUR NECK? HEAVY. THIS ONE IS HEFTY. OBVIOUSLY IT'S PRETTY COOL. LIKE, A BIT OF THE EIFFEL TOWER THERE, WHICH IS` YEAH, IT'S PRETTY SICK. HELL OF A DAY, MAN. HE GAVE IT A HELL OF A GO. AND THAT'S ONE THING` HE DIDN'T LIE DOWN AND GO` HE'S NOT GONNA LIE DOWN TONIGHT AND GO, 'WHAT IF?' SO YEAH, SILVER MEDAL, BABY! ONE UP FROM LAST TIME, AND NEXT OLYMPICS, HE'S GONNA BE BACK FOR THE GOLD. HOW PROUD ARE YOU OF WHAT HAYDEN'S JUST DONE? VERY, VERY PROUD. I THINK BACKING UP A MEDAL FROM TOKYO IS PROBABLY THE HARDEST YOU CAN DO. HOW HE HANDLED THE PRESSURE AND HOW HE HANDLED THE RACE ` I THINK WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF HIM. (ALL EXCLAIM) FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FANS GATHERING AT NEW ZEALAND HOUSE FOR NEARLY TWO HOURS OF TENSION AND DRAMA. (ALL GROAN) OH MY GOD. (APPLAUSE) A RACE IN WHICH WILDE TRAILED BY A MINUTE OUT OF THE SWIM, TEAMMATE DYLAN MCCULLOUGH SELFLESSLY SACRIFICING HIS GAMES DEBUT TO PULL THE GOLD MEDAL HOPE INTO THE LEAD GROUP OFF THE BIKE. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) AND THEN IT LOOKED LIKE WILDE WAS RUNNING HIS WAY TO PARISIAN PARADISE, ONLY FOR BRITAIN'S ALEX YEE TO SPOIL THE KIWI PARTY. WHERE HAS HE FOUND THIS FROM? AND ALEX YEE GOES IN FRONT NOW. I THINK MENTALLY I WAS READY, BUT` TO GO SOLO AND GIVE IT EVERYTHING, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK I PREPARED FOR THE HEAT. I DON'T THINK OF ANY OTHER WAY I POTENTIALLY COULD HAVE PUT HIM ON THE ROPES. THE RACE DYNAMICS CHANGED HUGELY. YOU KNOW, FROM AN 8am RACE TO A 10.45 RACE. IT WAS JUST NICE NOT TO HAVE ANY CONTROVERSIAL PENALTIES OR JUST ANYTHING GO WRONG. IT WAS JUST A ONE-ON-ONE RACE, AND THE BETTER MAN CAME UP ON TOP. GREAT MATES WHO PUT ON AN OLYMPIC SPECTACLE FOR THE AGES. SO, GUY, YOU GOT TO WALK AND TALK WITH HAYDEN WILDE AS HE MADE HIS WAY TO NEW ZEALAND HOUSE FOR A WELL-DESERVED PINOT. WHAT ELSE DID HE SAY ABOUT THAT DRAMATIC RACE? I THINK MOST PEOPLE WERE A LITTLE BIT WORRIED WHEN HE GOT OUT OF THE SWIM MORE THAN A MINUTE BEHIND BUT HE WAS VERY HAPPY WITH HIS SWIM IT WAS INCREDIBLY TECHNICAL PART OF THE RACE. HE GOT TAKEN THAT SHANNON HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A BRUISE AFTERWARDS. AFTER COMING OUT OF THE WATER. HE SAID IT WAS SO HOT THAT THE WATER THAT THE WATER HAD ENOUGH OF THEM TO DRINK WAS WARM. WAS AN IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITY FAN TO HAVE. DID ALL I COULD TO GET THAT GOLD MEDAL, BUT IT JUST CAME OUT SHORT AND I WAS PROUD OF THE WAY I RACED. I'M PROUD OF MY TEAM AND JUST PROUD OF JUST MY TEAM-MATE DYLAN. HE SACRIFICED HIS RACE, CAME BACK, HELPED THIS OLD BOY GET UP. I'M 26 NOW. AND HE'S, YOU KNOW, HE'S ONLY 23. SO, IT WAS HIS FIRST OLYMPICS, AND HE SACRIFICED EVERYTHING FOR ME. SO IT WAS JUST IT WAS FANTASTIC AND I OWE A LOT TO HIM FOR THAT. AND I HOPE I CAN JUST HELP HIM DELIVER IN LA OR HELP HIM DELIVER IN THE MIXED RELAY COMING UP. HE DIDN'T GET A MEDAL HIMSELF ` WHAT DOES HE DESERVE FOR WHAT HE DID FOR YOU? HE DESERVES THE KEYS TO NEW ZEALAND, MATE. HE GOT NEW ZEALAND ANOTHER TRIATHLON MEDAL. AND HE DID... YEAH. HE DID A PERFECT JOB. OUR IDEA WAS IF I COULD GET IN TROUBLE, HE WOULD COME AND HELP OUT AND, YEAH. HE DID A PERFECT JOB. SAT ON THE FRONT, BROUGHT US HOME AND GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT IN AND GET THE FEET AND THE LEGS RECOVERED A LITTLE BIT, AND, I COULDN'T THANK HIM MORE. TELL ME ABOUT CROSSING THAT LINE, HOW MUCH IT WOULD HAVE HURT BUT HOW THE OUTPOURING, I SUPPOSE, OF SUPPORT THAT YOU GAVE ALEX AS WELL. IT WAS JUST NICE FOR US TO FINALLY HAVE, A MAN ON MAN RACING. CRAIG AND MY COACH, UM, WE HAD A PLAN THAT WE WOULD RACE TO 9.5km AND HOPEFULLY HAVE ENOUGH GAP TO JUST TRY AND GET OVER THE FINISH LINE, BUT IT JUST WASN'T MEANT TO BE. A LOT OF FANS FOR YOU OUT THERE, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE BACK HOME, ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF? IT WAS CRAZY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT TO PARIS. I KNOW PEOPLE SACRIFICED A LOT TO COME OVER TO NEW ZEALAND, AND, IT WAS JUST SO COOL TO HAVE NOT JUST NEW ZEALANDERS OUT THERE, BUT JUST THE WORLD. YOU KNOW, IT'S SO NICE TO SEE SO MANY HAYDEN WILDE FANS OUT THERE AND IT WAS JUST UNREAL. RIVALS, BUT CLOSE MATES TOO, GUY, AND THAT WAS CLEAR AFTER THE RACE? THEY BEEN FRIENDS FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS. THEY MET AT A RACE WHEN THERE WERE RELATIVELY YOUNG. THEY SPENT ABOUT A WEEK RIMMING TOGETHER. THEY ARE INCREDIBLY CLOSE. HE SAID AT LEAST WE DIDN'T JOG ON THE BIG STAGE. WE BOTH HAD CHANCES IN THE MASSIVE RACES HAYDEN WILDE WINS A SILVER. AND WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE RACES. THANKS, YOU'LL BRING US MORE ABOUT THAT EPIC RACE LATER IN SPORT. TO THE DAY'S OTHER NEWS ` AT-RISK CHILDREN IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS TO MALACHI SUBECZ, ARE NO SAFER THAN WHEN THE 5-YEAR-OLD WAS MURDERED IN 2021. THAT'S THE CENTRAL FINDING OF A REPORT RELEASED BY THE INDEPENDENT CHILDREN'S MONITOR THIS AFTERNOON. THE WATCHDOG, WHOSE ROLE INCLUDES OBSERVING THE ORANGA TAMARIKI SYSTEM, SAYING, 'WE'RE NOT CONFIDENT THAT TAMARIKI IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS 'TO MALACHI ARE ANY MORE LIKELY TO BE SEEN, OR KEPT SAFE.' OUR CHIEF CORRESPONDENT JOHN CAMPBELL REPORTS. MALACHI SUBECZ WAS A BEAUTIFUL CHILD, BUT THE AGENCIES THAT MOST NEEDED TO DIDN'T SEE HIM. I HAVE ENDEAVOURED TO ENSURE A CHILD AT RISK OF ABUSE IS NOT INVISIBLE. IT'S NOT THAT HE WAS HIDDEN ` IT'S JUST THAT NO AGENCY LOOKED. AND TWO YEARS AGO, DAME KAREN TOLD US ` THIS IS CRITICAL FOR NEW ZEALAND. IF WE CAN'T GET THIS RIGHT, THEN WE HAVE FAILED. AND WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND? WHAT WE'VE SAID IS, ACTUALLY, PROGRESS HASN'T BEEN MADE TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN SAY KIDS ARE ANY SAFER TODAY THAN WHEN MALACHI WAS KILLED. FOR ME, WHEN I READ THAT REPORT, OPEN IT UP, SEE THAT STARK FINDING THAT TAMARIKI ARE NO SAFER THAN WHEN MALACHI DIED ` THAT'S COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. MULTIPLE AGENCIES ARE INVOLVED, NOT JUST ORANGA TAMARIKI, AND MANY OF DAME KAREN'S 2022 RECOMMENDATIONS ARE STILL YET TO BE ACHIEVED. WHAT WE ARE TOLD IS THEY'RE STILL DOING WORK, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ACHIEVED, AND CHANGE HAS NOT OCCURRED. WHY NOT? I CAN ONLY SAY THAT SUFFICIENT PRIORITY HASN'T BEEN GIVEN. THIS IS A NATIONAL SHAME, AND IT'S MORE THAN THAT ` IT'S A MULTI-GENERATIONAL NATIONAL SHAME HOW WE ARE TREATING CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTRY. IN RESPONSE, A STATEMENT WAS ISSUED THIS AFTERNOON ON BEHALF OF EIGHT STATE AGENCIES. 'A WIDE BREADTH OF WORK IS UNDERWAY ALL SING: # MAKE IT SHINE, MAKE IT SHINE... OF COURSE, ALL OF THIS COMES A WEEK AFTER THE ROYAL COMMISSION'S REPORT INTO ABUSE IN STATE CARE, BUT ANY SENSE THAT ABUSE AND CARE IS NOW HISTORY IS WRONG. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 519 CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE PAST YEAR HAVING BEEN HARMED AND ABUSED IN OUR STATE CARE SYSTEM. THAT'S PHYSICAL ABUSE, THAT'S SEXUAL ABUSE, EMOTIONAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SEEING A LARGE VOLUME OF REPORTS OF CONCERN GOING THROUGH TO ORANGA TAMARIKI AND THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO RESPOND. AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY THAT IS FIT FOR PURPOSE. THERE'S ABOUT SIX TO EIGHT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT HAVE THIS CLEAR RESPONSIBILITY, AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING FROM THE MONITOR'S REPORT TODAY IS THAT THEY AS WELL ARE NOT COMING TO THE TABLE ENOUGH TO REALLY PRIORITISE THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN. AND YOU CAN WATCH JOHN CAMPBELL'S IN-DEPTH STORY, INCLUDING A CANDID INTERVIEW WITH THE CHILDREN'S COMMISSIONER, IN THE NEWS SECTION ON TVNZ+. THERE'S GROWING CONCERN ABOUT LOOMING FUNDING CUTS FOR FRONT-LINE SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AS ORANGA TAMARIKI ADJUSTS ITS BUDGETS. IN THE LAST 48 HOURS, NUMEROUS ORGANISATIONS HAVE BEEN TOLD OF EITHER A REDUCTION IN BUDGETS OR THEIR CONTRACTS FACE BEING CUT. $14M IS SET TO GO FROM THE FLAGSHIP FAMILY START PROGRAMME, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF MORE THAN 100 JOBS. HERE'S CORAZON MILLER WITH THIS EXCLUSIVE REPORT. THE KEY TO SUCCESS IS STARTING EARLY. THE CORE OF OUR WORK IS PREVENTING UPLIFT. BUT FOR MANY YOUNG FAMILIES, THAT LIFELINE COULD BE SEVERED, AS ORANGA TAMARIKI FACES A $30M CUT TO ITS ANNUAL BUDGETS. WE HAVE PREVENTED SO MANY UPLIFTS. UNFORTUNATELY, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT ANY LONGER. SHE'S SET TO LOSE THREE SOCIAL WORKERS, AND SHE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE. WE WILL BE STOPPING ALL SERVICES, SO THAT WILL INVOLVE SOCIAL WORK, COUNSELLING, ASSESSMENT SERVICES, FREE LEGAL SERVICE. ONE OF THE BIGGEST CUTS ON THE CARDS WILL AFFECT FLAGSHIP PROGRAMME FAMILY START, SET UP ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO. FAMILY START IS FOCUSED ON UNDER 2-YEAR-OLDS, AND VULNERABLE FAMILIES. ONE THAT'S NOW SET TO LOSE MILLIONS FROM ITS NATIONWIDE BUDGET. ORANGA TAMARIKI INFORMED US YESTERDAY THERE WOULD BE A $14M REDUCTION ` 1600 LESS KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 2 BEING SEEN. ALL UP, THERE WERE CLOSE TO A THOUSAND SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS WHOSE CONTRACTS WERE DUE TO END IN JUNE, MANY OF THEM STILL EXPECTING TO HEAR THEIR FATE THIS WEEK. ORANGA TAMARIKI SAYS NEGOTIATIONS ARE STILL ONGOING, BUT EXPECTS LESS THAN HALF OF THOSE CONTRACTS WILL BE CUT. IN RELATION TO FAMILY START, IT SAID THE SERVICE WILL CONTINUE, BUT THERE WILL BE A REDUCTION IN EACH PROVIDER'S BUDGET BASED ON THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES IN THEIR AREA. IN A STATEMENT, THE MINISTER'S OFFICE SAID SHE COULDN'T COMMENT ON INDIVIDUAL CASES OPPOSITION WEIGHING IN. MANY OF THOSE PROVIDERS CONVENED A MEETING IN THE LAST 48 HOURS. THESE ARE CRISIS MEETINGS. SOME OF THOSE COMMUNITIES, THERE AREN'T OTHER PROVIDERS WHO CAN TAKE UP THAT SAME WORK. WILL THAT MEAN MORE OF OUR WHANAU IN STATE CARE? MORE HARM BEING DONE TO OUR WHANAU? AND SHE ASKS ` WILL TODAY'S SAVINGS END UP COSTING US MORE IN THE FUTURE? CORAZON MILLER, ONE NEWS. A WARNING ABOUT OUR NEXT STORY ` IT MAY BE DISTRESSING FOR SOME VIEWERS, AND TALKS ABOUT SELF-HARM. THE DEFENCE IN THE PHILIP POLKINGHORNE MURDER TRIAL HAS RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A CROWN EXPERT WITNESS. THE RETIRED EYE SURGEON IS ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS WIFE, PAULINE HANNA, IN 2021, AND MAKING IT LOOK LIKE A SUICIDE. HIS OWN LAWYERS SAY HE SIMPLY FOUND HER DEAD. PART OF THE CROWN'S CASE IS THAT A ROPE AT THE SCENE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT A PERSON. TODAY, THE DEFENCE FOCUSED ON THE BACKGROUND OF ONE OF ITS WITNESSES, A ROPE EXPERT IN CANADA. SO YOU DON'T HAVE AN ENGINEERING QUALIFICATION? NO, I DO NOT. SO, NOTHING IN RELATION TO... ROPES, OR THE STUDY OF KNOTS, OR EVEN... ANYTHING FORENSIC BY WAY OF SCIENCE? THAT'S CORRECT. ROBERT CHISNALL SAID UNDER CROWN RE-EXAMINATION HE HAS WRITTEN SEVERAL JOURNAL ARTICLES ABOUT ROPE FORENSICS. A CHRISTCHURCH TEENAGER WHO SUFFERED AN UNSURVIVABLE HEAD INJURY WHILE ON A SCHOOL OUTING TO AN ICE RINK HAS DIED. KYMANI HILEY-HETARAKA (13) WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL IN A CRITICAL CONDITION FOLLOWING THE FALL AT ALPINE ICE SPORTS CENTRE ON TUESDAY. SHE WASN'T WEARING A HELMET. THE HAEATA COMMUNITY CAMPUS' PRINCIPAL SAYS KYMANI WAS A VIBRANT PUPIL WHO TOUCHED THE LIVES OF MANY WITH KINDNESS, AROHA AND A BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT. WORKSAFE IS INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT. 'WE NEED RELATIONSHIPS WITH COUNTRIES THAT ARE LIKE-MINDED.' THAT'S ACCORDING TO WINSTON PETERS, WHO SAYS IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE NOT TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY OF JOINING UP TO AUKUS PILLAR TWO. IN HIS FIRST IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW SINCE BECOMING OUR FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER THIS TERM, PETERS' SAT DOWN WITH POLITICAL EDITOR MAIKI SHERMAN. NEW ZEALAND'S INCREASINGLY COSY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.S DRAWING PLENTY OF ATTENTION, AND THERE'S JUST ONE LOOMING QUESTION. IN YOUR OPINION, SHOULD NEW ZEALAND SIGN UP TO PILLAR TWO? OH LOOK, WE'RE FAR TOO FAR AWAY FROM ANY SUCH DECISION OR DISCUSSION WITH THE NEW ZEALAND PUBLIC. BUT MANY ARE TALKING, QUESTIONING WHETHER NEW ZEALAND IS ON A PATHWAY TO BECOMING A MILITARY ALLY FOR THE U.S AS THE SUPERPOWER RESPONDS TO THE RISE OF CHINA. DO YOU ACCEPT THERE IS A STRATEGY BY THE U.S AND ITS ALLIES SUCH AS AUSTRALIA TO CONTAIN CHINA? LOOK, YOU'D HAVE TO ASK AUSTRALIA AND THE UNITED STATES THOSE QUESTIONS. IF YOU'RE ASKING ME ABOUT OUR HEIGHTENED AWARENESS OF GEOSTRATEGIC CHANGES AND STRESSES AND STRAINS, YES, WE ARE. CHINA'S GROWING PRESENCE IS VIEWED BY SOME AS A FAILURE OF THE WEST. WELL, IF YOU LEAVE A VOID IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE PACIFIC, THEN OTHER COUNTRIES ARE GOING TO FILL IT. EIGHT MONTHS INTO OFFICE, WINSTON PETERS HAS VISITED 11 OF THE 17 PACIFIC ISLAND FORUM NATIONS, WITH ANOTHER THREE VISITS IN THE COMING WEEKS. IS CHINA A THREAT TO NEW ZEALAND? NEVER MADE A STATEMENT LIKE THAT, NEVER GIVEN A SPEECH LIKE THAT. HE SAYS NEW ZEALAND IS EXPLORING AUKUS PILLAR TWO, A TECHNOLOGY SHARING AGREEMENT, WITH AUSTRALIA, THE UK AND U.S, ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED TO RESPOND TO CHINA. IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE NOT TO FIND OUT, PARTICULARLY WHEN SO MUCH OF THIS INVESTIGATION COULD BE TO OUR MASSIVE ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE. WINSTON PETERS IS PROMISING TRANSPARENCY, WITH PUBLIC FEEDBACK WELCOME. HOPEFULLY THOSE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE FROM PEOPLE INFORMED ABOUT ITS VARIOUS ASPECTS. PETERS SAYS THE AUKUS DISCUSSION BEGAN UNDER THE ARDERN GOVERNMENT, AND HE'S SOUGHT PERMISSION FROM LABOUR TO RELEASE PREVIOUS CABINET PAPERS FROM 2021. I'M STILL WAITING FOR HIPKINS TO GIVE US CONSENT ON THIS MATTER. HE'S DISMISSING CRITICISM BY FORMER LABOUR PRIME MINISTER HELEN CLARK AND FORMER NATIONAL LEADER DON BRASH THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT IS JEOPARDIZING THE NEW ZEALAND ECONOMY WITH CHINA, OUR LARGEST TRADE PARTNER. IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT SECURITY, YOU WEREN'T HAVING PROSPERITY. IT'S THAT SIMPLE. MUCH DISCUSSION AHEAD FOR NEW ZEALAND. MAIKI, THAT'S A RARE GLIMPSE INTO GOVERNMENT FOREIGN POLICY. WHAT WAS YOUR TAKEAWAY AFTER TALKING TO THE MINISTER? THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT INTERVIEW. WITH ST PETER'S HAS GIVEN A NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT SPEECHES ON HIS FARM AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME HE DID AN IN-DEPTH SITDOWN INTERVIEW AND WAS THE FIRST TIME WE CAN TO PUT A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS TO HIM ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC. AS YOU COULD EXPECT, WHEN ST PETER'S IS TAKING A CAREFUL AND CONSIDERED APPROACH BUT THERE WERE SOME KEY MESSAGES FROM THIS INTERVIEW. HE SAID DESPITE NEW ZEALAND'S LOCATION, WE ARE NOT AN ISLAND AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT NEW ZEALAND HAS A STRATEGIC SECURITY PARTNERS WHILE LIKE-MINDED. HE WAS CAREFUL TO COUNT THE AUGUST PILLAR DEAL AS A ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY RATHER THAN A MILITARY DEAL. GET IS TO CONVINCE CHINA THAT IS THE CASE IN TERMS OF THE CABINET PAPERS THE LABOUR LEADER PROVIDED PERMISSION FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO RELEASE THOSE AND BRING YOU ANOTHER UPDATE ON THAT ISSUE. THANKS, MAIKI. AND TO SEE MAIKI'S FULL INTERVIEW YOU CAN HEAD TO TVNZ+ AND GO TO THE NEWS PAGE. A MURI AKE NEI ` COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK ` FEARS GROW OF AN ALL-OUT WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST AS IRAN PROMISES REVENGE FOR THE HAMAS LEADER'S KILLING. PLUS ` FIND OUT WHERE HOUSE PRICES ARE HEADING, AND WHAT THE MARKET COULD MEAN FOR YOUR MOVING PLANS. THEN, ON SEVEN SHARP, WE'RE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT WITH THE UPS AND DOWNS OF BEING A BUS DRIVER. EVEN ON A BAD DAY WHEN PEOPLE ARE UPSET OR CRANKY, WHATEVER, I CAN MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENCE BY SMILING AND SAYING, 'HI, HOW ARE YOU?' PLUS THE DOGGY DAYCARE THAT'S BEING HOUNDED FOR CLIENTS. JOIN US TONIGHT AT 7. (UPBEAT MUSIC) Ready! (BOTH CHEER) (LAUGHS) VOICEOVER: Small steps can help you achieve your goals. Get your money one step ahead with ASB. NAU MAI HOKI MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK. IRAN'S VOWING REVENGE FOR THE ASSASSINATION OF HAMAS' LEADER, SAYING THERE'LL BE 'HARSH PUNISHMENT.' AFTER ISMAIL HANIYEH WAS KILLED IN HIS RESIDENCE IN TEHRAN, THERE ARE REPORTS IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER HAS NOW ORDERED A DIRECT ATTACK ON ISRAEL. IN A TELEVISED ADDRESS, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU DIDN'T DIRECTLY REFERENCE THE HAMAS LEADER'S DEATH, BUT TALKED ABOUT 'CRUSHING BLOWS' TO ITS ENEMIES IN RECENT DAYS, AND WARNED OF CHALLENGING TIMES AHEAD. TO THE U.S, DONALD TRUMP HAS SPARKED BACKLASH AFTER QUESTIONING THE RACIAL IDENTITY OF KAMALA HARRIS. SPEAKING DURING AN APPEARANCE BEFORE THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS, MR TRUMP SAID THE VICE PRESIDENT 'BECAME' BLACK, INSINUATING SHE MISLED VOTERS. SHE WAS ALWAYS OF INDIAN HERITAGE, 3AND SHE WAS ONLY PROMOTING INDIAN HERITAGE ` I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS BLACK UNTIL A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, WHEN SHE HAPPENED TO TURN BLACK, AND NOW SHE WANTS TO BE KNOWN AS BLACK. KAMALA HARRIS DISMISSED THE REMARKS AS A SHOW OF DIVISIVENESS AND DISREPECT. A 17-YEAR-OLD BOY'S BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER THREE CHILDREN WERE STABBED AT A TAYLOR SWIFT-THEMED DANCE CLASS IN THE UK. THE ATTACK IN SOUTHPORT, IN THE NORTHWEST OF ENGLAND. SPARKED FAR-RIGHT PROTESTS OUTSIDE A LOCAL MOSQUE AFTER ONLINE MISINFORMATION FALSELY LINKED THE ATTACKER TO ISLAM. MORE THAN 50 POLICE OFFICERS WERE INJURED. THE BBC'S FACING QUESTIONS AROUND WHAT IT KNEW AND WHEN AFTER FORMER PRESENTER HUW EDWARDS PLEADED GUILTY TO MAKING INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN. THE 62-YEAR-OLD FACING COURT TODAY AS IT WAS REVEALED HE'D RECEIVED 41 IMAGES OF CHILDREN, SOME AS YOUNG AS 7. IT'S ALSO COME TO LIGHT EDWARDS RECEIVED A PAY RISE WHILE SUSPENDED FROM WORK, TAKING HIS SALARY TO MORE THAN NZ$1m. TE RUNANGA O NGATI WHATUA IS TAKING THE GOVERNMENT TO COURT OVER ITS PLANS TO IT MAKE IT HARDER FOR MAORI TO CLAIM CUSTOMARY RIGHTS OVER THE FORESHORE AND SEABED. OUR MAORI AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT TE ANIWA HURIHANGANUI JOINS US NOW FROM THE AUCKLAND HIGH COURT. ARE OTHER IWI EXPECTED TO FOLLOW? I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF SOME DO THAT IS BECAUSE IWI AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE ALREADY SHOWN THAT OPPOSITION TO THE GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO MEND THE MARINE COASTAL ACT SOME SAY THIS WILL MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR MAORI OWN THEY ALREADY HAVE CLAIMS BEFORE THE HIGH COURT. MIGHT, IF THIS BILL PASSES THAT CAN STILL BE OVERTURNED. THERE IS A LOT AT STAKE FOR THEM HERE. THAT LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ARE ELEGANT AT THE GOVERNMENT HAS BREACHED BUT THE BILL OF RIGHTS ACT. THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT A RECENT COURT OF APPEAL RULING. TEST OF CUSTOM WANTS TO RESTORE THE TEST AND SAYS THAT THE TEST WILL NOT BE IMPOSSIBLE JUST INTENTIONALLY DIFFICULT GIVEN THE POWERS THAT ARE GIVEN TO MAORI HOUSE PRICES CONTINUE TO SLIDE. FALLING FOR THE FIFTH MONTH IN A ROW. THE LATEST CORELOGIC NUMBERS REVEALING NATIONWIDE, THEY'RE DOWN 2.5% FROM A MINI PEAK IN FEBRUARY. THE BIGGEST DROPS IN THE PAST MONTH WERE IN TAURANGA, AUCKLAND AND WELLINGTON. THEY'VE FALLEN 16% FROM THE BOOM DAYS IN JANUARY 2022, WITH THE AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE NOW JUST OVER $800,000. BUT THERE ARE SOME AREAS WHERE HOUSE PRICES ARE INCREASING, WITH SLIGHT RISES IN QUEENSTOWN AND INVERCARGILL. IT'S ABOUT THOSE INTEREST RATES, AND THE TRACKING OF THOSE INTEREST RATES ` AS THEY SLOWLY DECLINE, IT'S LIKELY TO BRING SOME LEVEL OF STABILISATION OF PRICES, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S VERY CLEAR THE POWER IS IN THE BUYERS' HANDS, AND THAT'S MEANING VALUES ARE STILL CONTINUING TO FALL AWAY, PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT LONGER, AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN SPRING. WHILE MOST BANKS HAVE STARTED CUTTING INTEREST RATES, ANY BIG MOVES ARE UNLIKELY UNTIL THE RESERVE BANK CUTS THE OFFICIAL CASH RATE. IT'LL NEXT MEET TO CONSIDER THAT IN TWO WEEKS' TIME. AFTER THE BREAK ` AMID A SHORTAGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, SHOULD WE BE GETTING A THIRD MEDICAL SCHOOL? THE DOCTORS DEBATE HEATS UP. AND OUR RUGBY PLAYERS STILL IN SEVENTH HEAVEN AS THEY REVEAL THE PHILOSPHY THAT GOT THEM GOLD. WE WANT TO BE GOOD PEOPLE BEFORE GOOD RUGBY PLAYERS. THEN, ON SEVEN SHARP ` THEIR BUSINESS WAS DESTROYED DURING CYCLONE GABRIELLE, BUT NOW ` A FRESH START. (SIGHS) WATCH THIS SPACE. (LAUGHS) WATCH THIS SPACE. WHY THESE DOGS ARE LIVING THEIR BEST LIVES. AND IT'S A NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTION THAT'S HELPED LOTS OF FAMILIES THROUGH TOUGH TIMES ` THE CHILDREN'S CHARITY BARNARDO'S TURNS 55. THAT'S COMING UP AT 7. AN INVESTIGATION INTO A TRANSPOWER PYLON COLLAPSE LAST MONTH THAT CUT POWER TO NORTHLAND FOR DAYS HAS FOUND SOME CREW WORKING ON SITE DIDN'T HAVE FORMAL TRAINING. THE PYLON FELL AFTER CONTRACTORS REMOVED TOO MANY NUTS FROM ITS BASE. THE INVESTIGATION ALSO FOUND CREW HAD INADEQUATE SUPERVISION WHILE COMPLETING MAINTENANCE. WE CANNOT COMPREHEND HOW A CREW WITHOUT SUFFICIENT TRAINING OR SUPERVISION WAS ASSIGNED TO THIS JOB BY OMEXOM. TRANSPOWER SAYS IT'S MOVING QUICKLY TO ADDRESS THE REPORT'S FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. THE TWO EXISTING MEDICAL SCHOOLS ARE WEIGHING IN ON GOVERNMENT PLANS TO CREATE A THIRD. THE UNIVERSITIES OF AUCKLAND AND OTAGO SAY A NEW REPORT FINDS THERE ARE MORE COST-EFFECTIVE WAYS OF GETTING DOCTORS ON THE FRONT LINES. NICOLE BREMNER REPORTS. FROM RURAL COMMUNITIES TO BIG CITIES, DOCTORS IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY. BUT THE GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO BOOST THE NUMBER OF RURAL GPs BY BUILDING A NEW MED SCHOOL IN WAIKATO IS BEING QUESTIONED IN A NEW REPORT. WHAT THE REPORT HAS DONE IS IT HAS GONE THROUGH ALL THE OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MEDICAL STUDENTS THAT WE EDUCATE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WHAT WE'RE ARGUING FOR IS WHAT IS THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE WAY OF DOING THAT. LONG-TIME CRITICS OF A THIRD MEDICAL SCHOOL, AUCKLAND AND OTAGO UNIVERSITIES JOINTLY COMMISSIONED THE REPORT FROM GLOBAL BUSINESS ADVISORY PWC. IT FOUND MORE COST-EFFECTIVE TRAINING COULD BE DELIVERED BY THE TWO CURRENT MED SCHOOLS, WHICH COULD ALSO LIFT INTAKE NUMBERS MORE QUICKLY WITH INCREASED FUNDING, AND A FOUR-YEAR GRADUATE ENTRY PROGRAMME COULD BE CONSIDERED ` A CONCEPT CENTRAL TO WAIKATO'S MODEL. WE'VE COME UP WITH DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN PUTTING TO GOVERNMENT SINCE 2017 ABOUT HOW TO TRAIN MORE DOCTORS. THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED SUPPORT FOR A NEW WAIKATO MED SCHOOL WITH A RURAL FOCUS LAST JULY DURING THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN. THE SORT OF PROGRAMME WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS EXACTLY WHAT MELBOURNE, SYDNEY` A NUMBER OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN AUSTRALIA DO. IN FEBRUARY, THE GO-AHEAD WAS GIVEN FOR A BUSINESS CASE TO PROCEED. BUT THOSE ON THE FRONT LINE SAY TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. THAT MED SCHOOL IN WAIKATO WON'T DELIVER SOONER AND IT WON'T DELIVER ANYTHING LIKE A REASONABLE PRICE. IN A STATEMENT, HEALTH MINISTER SHANE RETI SAYS THE NEW MED SCHOOL WILL COMPLEMENT EXISTING PROGRAMMES, NOT COMPETE WITH THEM, AND HE EXPECTS THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH TO ENGAGE WITH BOTH UNIVERSITIES THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. WAIKATO UNIVERSITY SAYS IT WAS NOT APPROACHED ABOUT THE REPORT, HAS NOT SEEN IT, AND AS SUCH HAS NO COMMENT. NICOLE BREMNER, 1 NEWS. EXCITEMENT LEVELS ARE STILL RUNNING HIGH AS OUR OLYMPIC SEVENS CHAMPIONS BASK IN THE GLORY OF BACK-TO-BACK GOLDS ` THE COMPETITION ATTRACTING A RECORD-BREAKING CROWD TO WOMEN'S RUGBY. OLYMPIC REPORTER HENRY MCMULLAN CAUGHT UP WITH THE TEAM. (PUTATARA BLOWS, KARANGA) MEDALS CLANKING AND WAIATA FLOWING AS FRIENDS AND WHANAU GATHERED TO CELEBRATE THESE GOLDEN GIRLS. WHEN WE CAME DOWN THE STAIRS, I WAS LIKE, 'HOLY` THIS IS PRETTY INCREDIBLE.' EMOTIONS STILL RUNNING HIGH THE DAY AFTER THE MILESTONE WIN. (SNIFFLES) TEARFULLY: OH MY GOD, YOU GOT ME! IN 2012, THE DREAM WAS TO JUST BE ALONGSIDE YOUR TEAM-MATES, LET ALONE TO COME TO THREE OLYMPICS, REPRESENTING NEW ZEALAND. THE SCENE AT NEW ZEALAND HOUSE A STARK DIFFERENCE TO TOKYO, WHERE COVID PREVENTED MOST FAMILIES FROM BEING THERE. WHEN WE'RE NEAR HER, ITS REALLY EMOTIONAL. IT'S REALLY NICE, BECAUSE WE THINK OF HOME, HER GRANDPARENTS, MY WIFE'S MUM AND DAD, 'TRAVELLING AROUND THE WORLD? WELL, NAH.' 'PLAYING IN AN EVENT ` NAH.' AND WE'RE HERE. FOLLOWING THE TEAM'S REMARKABLE BACK-TO-BACK GOLD-MEDAL PERFORMANCE, THEY ARE CONTINUING CELEBRATIONS WITH WHANAU AND FRIENDS. CAPTAIN SARAH HIRINI A KEY FACTOR TO THE WIN ` A REMARKABLE COMEBACK FOLLOWING A SERIOUS ACL INJURY. YEAH, LIKE, I THINK DAILY, PROBABLY QUESTIONED IT, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR GROUP, WE'RE ABOUT WHANAU FIRST. WE WANT TO BE GOOD PEOPLE BEFORE GOOD RUGBY PLAYERS. THE GAME MAKING HISTORY WITH THE LARGEST CROWD EVER IN WOMEN'S RUGBY ` MORE THAN 66,000. THEY ARE THE GOATS ` NOT JUST OF WOMEN'S RUGBY, NOT JUST OF RUGBY SEVENS, I THINK THEY'RE THE GOATS OF NEW ZEALAND. THE WHOLE SQUAD CHERISHING EVERY MOMENT, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE BLACK JERSEY FOR THE LAST TIME. WE DIDN'T TAKE OUR KIT OFF ` LIKE, WE WENT STRAIGHT AND CELEBRATED WITH OUR WHANAU, ALL TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS, AND WE WERE ALL IN OUR KIT. LEGENDS LEAVING, CONFIDENT THERE'LL BE MORE GOLDEN MOMENTS LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE. HENRY MCMULLAN, 1 NEWS. TIME NOW FOR SPORT WITH CHRIS IN PARIS, AND ANOTHER BIG DAY AHEAD FOR OUR KIWI ATHLETES AT THE OLYMPICS? YES ` SOME OF OUR ROWERS GOING FOR GOLD IN JUST A FEW HOURS, SURELY INSPIRED BY HAYDEN WILDE. WE DELVE INTO THAT EPIC TRIATHLON RACE SOME MORE AND THE ROLE AN UNHERALDED KIWI PLAYED. PLUS ` THE McKIWIS CHASE A MEDAL AT THE SAILING IN MARSEILLE AS A CHINESE SWIMMER FINALLY SETS A WORLD MARK IN THE PARIS POOL. AND IN WEATHER, THINGS CONTINUE TO SLOWLY QUIETEN DOWN, BUT THE ACTIVE WEATHER GOES AWAY. JACK FROST, HE ALL OF A SUDDEN COMES ON THE SCENE BIG-TIME ` ANOTHER COLD, FROSTY NIGHT. FINE BY DAY FOR MOST OF US AS A HIGH COMES IN ` THERE'LL BE SOME SUN, SOME CLOUD, BUT STILL COULD BE SOME RAIN UP NORTH AND SHOWERS IN THE EAST. HOW IT'S SHAPING UP AT YOUR PLACE ` AFTER SPORT. NEW ZEALAND'S MEDAL TALLY IS NOW AT TWO AFTER HAYDEN WILDE COLLECTED SILVER IN DRAMATIC FASHION IN THE MEN'S TRIATHLON. IT WAS A RESULT HIS TEAMMATE COULD ENJOY AS WELL, AND LEAVES WILDE ONE SHORT OF A COMPLETE SET OF OLYMPIC MEDALS. HERE'S GUY HEVELDT. ONLY ONE MAN GETS TO WEAR THE OLYMPIC MEDAL... (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) BUT WITHOUT DYLAN MCCULLOUGH, THE SILVER WOULDN'T BE NEAR HAYDEN WILDE'S NECK. NO, WHEN WE CAUGHT THE` BRIDGED THE GAP, I, YOU KNOW, GAVE HIM A TAP ON THE BUM AND SAID, 'YOU'RE AN EFFING LEGEND.' MCCULLOUGH DROPPING BACK FROM THE LEAD BIKE BUNCH TO PULL WILDE INTO CONTENTION AFTER THE GOLD MEDAL HOPE FELL BEHIND BY MORE THAN A MINUTE OUT OF THE SWIM. YEAH, I DIDN'T WANT ANY RECOGNITION FOR IT. IT'S JUST` I WAS DOING IT FOR HAYDEN AND THE COUNTRY, AND IT'S A SILVER MEDAL FOR HAYDEN AND FOR EVERYONE ELSE. SO, I JUST WANT TO DO EVERYTHING I COULD, AND REALLY, REALLY PLEASED THAT IT PAID OFF TODAY. ALL UP TO HAYDEN AS WELL. HE'S GIVEN SOME HUGE PLAUDITS TO DYLAN AFTER THE RACE. AND IT'S NICE TO SEE IN AN INDIVIDUAL SPORT THAT THERE CAN BE TEAMWORK. AND IT WAS NEEDED. A SWELTERING PARISIAN DAY, WITH THE START TIME NEARLY THREE HOURS LATER THAN PLANNED AFTER THE RACE HAD BEEN POSTPONED A DAY. WILDE AND COACH CRAIG KIRKWOOD PRIORITISING ALTITUDE TRAINING FOR FITNESS OVER HEAT PREPARATION. WE HADN'T REALLY DONE MUCH HEAT WORK, SO, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY THAT WAS A FAILING. BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE COULDN'T HAVE FORESEEN WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY THREW AT US WITH THE 10.45am START, AND RUNNING IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY. IT'S A SECOND OLYMPIC MEDAL FOR THE KIWI AFTER HIS BRONZE IN TOKYO. HE'S LONG TALKED ABOUT DITCHING THE OLYMPIC RACE AFTER THESE GAMES AND MOVING TO THE 70.3 HALF IRONMAN LEVEL. THAT MAY NOW HAVE TO WAIT. ARE YOU COMING BACK FOR LA '28, MATE? YEAH, WELL, IDEALLY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOLD, SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO` HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS TRAUMATIC STRESS FOUR-YEAR CYCLE AGAIN, BUT, LIKE, I CAN'T SAY NO. A GOAL THERE WOULD COMPLETE A QUITE IMPRESSIVE SET. GUY HEVELDT, 1 NEWS, PARIS. NEW ZEALAND'S ROWERS HAVE A GREAT CHANCE TO ADD TO OUR MEDAL TALLY, STARTING WITH FOUR CREWS IN FINALS ACTION TODAY. AND JOINING ME AGAIN IS OLYMPICS REPORTER GUY HEVELDT. GUY, THE KIWI ROWERS HAVE BEEN IN GOOD FORM SO FAR AT THESE OLYMPICS. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TODAY? I THINK WE CAN EXPECT MORE MEDALS. THERE ARE FOUR FINALS, AND THE KIWIS ARE IN ALL OF THEM, STARTING WITH THE WOMEN'S DOUBLE, WHO QUALIFIED FOR FASTEST. THE MEN'S QUALIFIED 4TH FASTEST. THE WOMEN'S FOUR HAVE ONLY HAD ONE RACE, AND QUALIFIED 4TH FASTEST, AND THE MEN WERE EXCELLENT IN THE HEAT AND THE TOP QUALIFIER AND GO IN AS ONE OF THE FAVOURITES. OF COURSE, IT'S ALSO A BIG DAY FOR OUR SINGLE SCULLERS WHO LINE UP IN THEIR SEMIFINALS. EMMA TWIGG IS THE DEFENDING CHAMPION. TOM MACKINTOSH AS WELL. THIS IS HIS FIRST CRACK AT THE OLYMPICS. HE HAS BEEN GOOD IN THE HEATS. THERE HAS BEEN A BIG CAR CRASH OUT TOWARDS THE ROWING VENUE, WHICH HAS CAUSED A HUGE TRAFFIC JAM BACK FROM THE VENUE. A REPORTER JORDAN OPPERT IS IN THE JAM. NO NZ ROWERS HAVE BEEN CAUGHT UP IN THE CRASH OR JAM. IF THERE IS ANY NEWS, WE WILL UPDATE YOU. ROWING'S NOT THE ONLY MEDAL CHANCE FOR KIWIS TODAY ` SAILORS ISAAC MCHARDIE AND WILL MCKENZIE GOT INTO THE DOUBLE POINTS FOR THEIR 49ER MEDAL RACE IN MARSEILLE IN THIRD. FOR OTHERS, THOUGH, THE GAMES ARE OVER. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT MEI HERON WRAPS UP THE DAY'S ACTION. ON A DAY WHEN MARSEILLE'S WIND HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN, KIWIS ISAAC McHARDIE AND WILLIAM McKENZIE WERE FIRMLY FIXED ON THEIR DIRECTION. WE'RE STILL IN THE HUNT FOR GOLD, SO THAT'S ALL WE CAN ASK FOR. THE POSITION WE'RE IN WHERE WE CAN'T COMPLAIN ` WE'RE STOKED. HAVING SLIPPED FROM FIRST TO THIRD, THE PAIR WITH A POINT TO PROVE McHARDIE AND McKENZIE HAVE IMPRESSED SO MUCH. THE UNITED STATES AGGRESSIVE IN RACE ONE, BUT THE KIWI LIGHT AIR SPECIALISTS TOO SLICK. IT'S THE FOURTH VICTORY FOR NEW ZEALAND. THE FOCUS NOW TURNING TO TONIGHT'S MEDAL RACE. I THINK EVERYONE IN THE TOP SEVEN COULD WIN GOLD. SO WE GO OUT THERE AND WIN THE RACE, THEN WE'LL LET THE BOATS BEHIND US SEE WHERE THEY FALL. THE WIND OUT OF THE SAILS OF THE FOOTBALL FERNS, LOSING TO FRANCE 2-0 TO END A TURBULENT CAMPAIGN, FINISHING BOTTOM OF THE TABLE DESPITE CANADA'S SIX-POINT DEDUCTION FOR SPYING THE CANADIANS BEATING COLOMBIA TO ADVANCE TO THE QUARTERS. I'M MASSIVELY DISAPPOINTED WITH HOW WE'VE DONE THIS TOURNAMENT. I THINK THAT ALL THREE OF THOSE TEAMS WERE BEATABLE. A GRIEF SHARED BY THE MATILDAS ` OUT, LOSING TO THE U.S. 2-1 THE AMERICANS ARE FORCE ON THE COURT TOO` THEIR SUPERSTARS SCRAPED A NARROW WIN OVER SOUTH SUDAN IN THEIR LAST MEETING. THIS REMATCH BROUGHT WITH IT APPROPRIATE FEAR, ACCORDING TO STEPH CURRY. FOLLOW-OUT TO JAMES ` TWO-HAND THROWDOWN! FEAR TURNING FIRE, WINNING 103-86. HE GOES FOR THE WALL! CHINA! AND IN THE POOL, VICTORY FOR CHINA ` PAN ZHANLE SMASHING THE WORLD RECORD. 46.40. THAT WAS INCREDIBLE! THE WIN COMING AFTER CHINA'S DOPING SCANDAL IN THE LEAD-UP TO THE GAMES. WHATEVER THE SPORT, THE CROWD'S BEEN PASSIONATE THESE OLYMPICS, ESPECIALLY TO HOMETOWN HEROES. BUT CASSANDRE BEAUGRAND, IT'S THE GREATEST DAY OF HER CAREER. SHE WINS A HOME OLYMPICS FOR FRANCE. THE PARIS-BORN 27-YEAR-OLD REDUCED TO A HEAP... AND SHE CAN'T QUITE TAKE IT IN. ...AS A WIN AT HOME HITS HOME. MEI HERON, 1 NEWS, PARIS. OUR ATHLETICS TEAM HAVE MADE THEIR WAY INTO THE ATHLETES VILLAGE. AMONG THEM, ZOE HOBBS, WHO'S SET TO BECOME NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST FEMALE OLYMPIC SPRINTER SINCE SUE JOWETT IN 1976. HOBBS BLAZING A NEW TRAIL FOR KIWI SPRINTERS. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE HAS MORE. ANOTHER HUGE STRIDE FOR NEW ZEALAND SPRINT QUEEN ZOE HOBBS. IT'S BEEN A MASSIVE DEAL JUST TO GET TO THE START LINE, SO JUST EMBRACING THIS MOMENT, AND FOR ME, I ONLY GET A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO ACTUALLY LIVE THAT MOMENT. A MOMENT HOBBS HAD A TOUGH TIME GETTING TO, INCLUDING CONTROVERSIALLY MISSING SELECTION FOR THE TOKYO GAMES, BUT NOW, FINALLY, THE 26-YEAR-OLD'S ABOUT TO BECOME THE COUNTRY'S FIRST WOMEN'S OLYMPIC SPRINTER IN ALMOST 50 YEARS. THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS HAVE BEEN QUITE QUIET, JUST RESTING AND THINGS, SO IT'S ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LETTING THE CHAIN OFF ON FRIDAY AND JUST LETTING HER FLY. DURING WORLD CHAMPS LAST YEAR, SHE DID ` JUST ONE HUNDREDTHS OF A SECOND OFF A SPOT IN THE WOMEN'S FINAL. COME THIS WEEKEND, THOUGH, THE OLYMPIC GLAMOUR EVENT WILL BE A WHOLE DIFFERENT BEAST. DOES IT FEEL LIKE YOU COULD GO SUB-11? THE WAY THAT MY BODY IS FEELING AND THE WAY THAT TRAINING IS GOING, I FEEL LIKE IT'S THERE. AND THE NEW PURPLE SURFACE AT STADE DE FRANCE COULD BE A GAME CHANGER. MONDO GROUP, WHO HAVE MADE EVERY OLYMPIC TRACK SINCE THE 1976 GAMES, ARE EXPECTING THE PARIS TRACK TO BE THEIR FASTEST YET, AROUND 1% TO 2% FASTER THAN THE TOKYO GAMES. IS THAT EXCITING? ABSOLUTELY EXCITING. IF THAT STAT IS TRUE, THEN I CAN'T WAIT. NEITHER CAN TWO-TIME OLYMPIAN SAM TANNER. HE JUST WATCHED HIS TRAINING PARTNER HAYDEN WILDE WIN SILVER TODAY. IT WAS ACTUALLY QUITE SPECIAL, COS HE CALLED ME. I'M LIKE, 'BRO, YOU'RE BUSY AS, MAN. 'YOU GOT SO MUCH MEDAL THINGS` I WAS GONNA CALL YOU TOMORROW.' ARE THERE PLANS FOR YOU TWO TO HAVE A CELEBRATION, OR DO YOU NEED TO GET A JOB DONE? YEAH, I GOTTA GET ` HE SAID, 'NO PRESSURE, MATE.' I WAS LIKE, 'THANKS FOR SETTING THE STANDARDS SO HIGH.' THE STAGE NOW SET FOR OTHER KIWIS TO FLY. MICHELLE PRENDIVILLE, ONE NEWS, PARIS. TO OTHER SPORT, AND THE CRUSADERS SUPER RUGBY TEAM HAVE CONFIRMED THEY'RE STICKING WITH COACH ROB PENNEY. IN HIS FIRST SEASON, PENNEY COACHED THE CRUSADERS TO A FOUR WIN, 10 LOSS RECORD. A LENGTHY DEBRIEF WILL SEE HIM STAY ON NEXT SEASON. SACKING PEOPLE, THROWING GRENADES INTO A SYSTEM THAT'S DELIVERED 14 CHAMPIONSHIPS OVER 28 YEARS ` SOME OF THE THINGS YOU COULD DO TO APPEASE ANGER AND FRUSTRATION STILL AREN'T NECESSARILY THE RIGHT THINGS TO DO. MANSBRIDGE SAYS AN INDEPENDENT REPORT HAS COME UP WITH 53 IMPROVEMENTS OR CHANGES THE FRANCHISE NEEDS TO TICK OFF. THE NORTHERN MYSTICS AND CENTRAL PULSE HAVE BOTH OVERCOME ADVERSITY THIS SEASON, AND NOW FIND THEMSELVES IN SUNDAY'S ANZ PREMIERSHIP GRAND FINAL. WITH INJURIES IMPACTING BOTH SIDES, THEY'VE BEEN FORCED TO UTILISE THEIR ENTIRE SQUADS. BUT AS KATE WELLS EXPLAINS ` THEIR SUBS HAVE BECOME THEIR SECRET WEAPONS. GRAND FINAL WEEK BRINGS PRESSURE AND ANTICIPATION, BUT THE MYSTICS ARE TRYING TO KEEP THINGS LIGHT. OH! SO TOO THE PULSE IN WELLINGTON. FOR NOW, THEY'LL STICK TO NETBALL, WITH A CHANCE TO CLINCH THEIR FOURTH ANZ PREMIERSHIP TITLE. I THINK ABOUT THE LAST TIME WE WON, AND IT WAS LITERALLY THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE, SO IT WOULD MEAN EVERYTHING. BUT SUNDAY'S DECIDER BRINGS SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES, MOSTLY IN THE FORM OF THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS. THAT'S FIVE IN A ROW FROM THE MYSTICS! PREVAILING OVER THE TACTIX IN LAST WEEKEND'S ELIMINATION FINAL, GRACE NWEKE ONCE AGAIN PIVOTAL, SHOOTING 60 GOALS. WE'VE GOT TO TRY AND LIMIT AS MUCH AS WE CAN THE BALL INTO GRACE. I MEAN, IT'S A HARD TASK BACK THERE, BUT WE'VE GOT TO DO OUR BEST TO HELP KELLY OUT AND GET BALL BEFORE IT CAN EVEN GET TO GRACE. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A FAIR BIT TO BREAK THE MYSTICS' MOMENTUM. THEIR TIGHT-KNIT TEAM CULTURE BASED AROUND HONESTY HAS HELPED THEM TO FIVE WINS ON THE TROT. WHEN WE HAVE REALLY HONEST CONVERSATIONS, SOMETIMES IT'S GOOD FOR US, SOMETIMES IT HURTS US A LITTLE BIT. BUT I THINK BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TO THE TRENCHES AND BACK, WE'VE HAD EACH OTHER'S BACKS. THAT TEAMWORK ON DISPLAY IN THE FORM OF IMPACT PLAYERS. KATIE TE AO'S COME ON FOR TAYLOR EARLE AND JUST GOT A TURNOVER FOR HER TEAM. BOTH TEAMS FORCED TO USE THEIR BENCHES DURING THE SEASON DUE TO INJURIES. IN THE LONG RUN, BECOMING A STRENGTH. THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE OF THE SEASON, WE'VE SEEN EVERYBODY CONTRIBUTE TO THE JOURNEY TO GET TO THE FINALS THIS YEAR. SO, EVERYBODY IS READY TO GO. READY TO END THAT JOURNEY IN STYLE. KATE WELLS, 1 NEWS. THAT'S IT FROM US HERE IN PARIS. ALWAYS TURN TO THE ROWING. STAY UPDATED ON OUR WEBSITE. WILL HAVE ALL THE LATEST FOR YOU TOMORROW ON BREAKFAST. THANKS, CHRIS. STAY WITH US ` WHAT THE WEATHER IS DOING AT YOUR PLACE, NEXT. THEN ON SEVEN SHARP ` THEY COP ABUSE ON A DAILY BASIS. WE FIND OUT ` WHAT'S THE DRIVE TO BE A BUS DRIVER? PLUS THE DOGGY DAY-CARE BUSINESS THAT'S GONE OUT ON A LIMB HELLO. HIGH PRESSURE STARTS TO BUILD, BUT SOME INTERESTING THINGS GOING ON. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING IN. THE NEXT HINTS OF A COLD SURGE THERE. THAT COLD WEATHER COULD BE ANOTHER COLD SURGE NEXT WEEK. THE HIGH IS COMING IN. FOR MANY WITH THE CLEAR SKIES, SOME LOVELY LOOKING SCENES OF FRESH SNOW. SOME OF THE HIGHER PEAKS WERE SEEING MORE THAN HALF A METRE OF SNOW. THESE OTHER TEMPERATURES. SINGLE FIGURES DOWN SOUTH. WE'RE LOSING SOME OF THOSE TEENS. FROST AS FAR NORTH AS WAIKATO. THE YELLOW BOX IS A RAIN WATCH FOR NORTHLAND. 50- 100MM OF RAIN. IT REALLY ENGAGES. SHOWERS FOR THE EASTERN PART OF CANTERBURY TO GISBORNE AND HAWKE'S BAY. STILL A BIT OF A GUSTY WIND THROUGH COOK STRAIT. PATCHY RAIN IN PLACES BECOMING PERSISTENT. FOR AUCKLAND, DEPENDING WHERE YOU ARE, NORTH WILL BE CLOUDY AND RAINY. HAMILTON HAS SOME EARLY CLOUD. NO PROBLEMS HERE. IT WILL BE CHILLY, WITH A TOUCH OF FROST. EARLY CLOUD, AND THEN FINE. SHOWERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WEST, GUSTY SOUTH-EASTERS. MAYBE SOME SHOWERS. SOUTHERLIES FOR WELLINGTON. IMPROVING HERE. STILL SOME SHOWERS. IT IS A CHILLY START IN WESTPORT. THE SHOWERS ARE DRIFTING EAST. FROSTY IN SOME PLACES, BUT SLOWLY IMPROVING. SUNSHINE HERE, SOME EARLY CLOUD AND FROST. -8 FOR MOUNT COOK. MANY SPOTS SEEING A LOVELY DAY, BUT IT WILL BE A CHILLY START. A COUPLE OF SHOWERS FOR STUART ISLAND, AND OTHERWISE OKAY FOR DUNEDIN. THE COULD BE SOME EARLY SHOWERS. HIGH PRESSURE ON THE WEEKEND. IT WILL BE COLD AND FROSTY. SUNDAY IT IS STILL THERE. HINTS OF COLDER WEATHER.